Pilot Debrief

James E Causey Acroduster II near Phoenix, AZ — 2018-08-20

Final reportWPR18FA229
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Date
2018-08-20
Location
Phoenix, AZ, USA
Airport
DVT
Aircraft
James E Causey Acroduster II
Registration
N787WM
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
2
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

An exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack while maneuvering for landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin at an altitude too low for recovery.

NTSB narrative

The two private pilots on board the experimental amateur-built airplane had purchased the airplane 2 days before the accident. On the day of the sale, the previous owner provided the rear-seat accident pilot with a 2.5-hour familiarization flight. He stated that he had no issues with the pilot's performance, but he did suggest that the accident pilot obtain some instruction from a flight instructor to become more familiar with the airplane, to which the accident pilot replied that he didn't have time and that he felt comfortable with the airplane. On the morning of the accident, the pilots performed 4 takeoffs and landings in the airport traffic pattern, each of which was uneventful. During the 5th circuit in the traffic pattern, onboard video revealed that the airplane's nose pitched up slightly just before the airplane entered the left turn onto the base leg. As the airplane continued to turn left, it appeared to exhibit aerodynamic buffeting. The airplane rolled right, then immediately rolled left as the nose pitched down and the airplane began to rapidly descend. The airplane rolled from a 90° left bank to a 90° right bank and continued to descend in a nose-low attitude while rolling left and right before impacting terrain. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. It could not be determined which of the two pilots was manipulating the flight controls at the time of the accident, and no personal logbooks for either pilot were available for review; therefore, the pilots' flight experience and recency of experience could not be determined. The onboard video of the flight was consistent with an exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack while maneuvering in the airport traffic pattern, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin at an altitude too low for recovery.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot declined to delay departure for additional familiarization with the aircraft.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 10 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents10

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